Wild Turkey Rare Breed Review

Hannah’s Wild Turkey Rare Breed Review

Original review written September 1, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A big surprise from Wild Turkey for me, this is a bottle I am now determined to keep on hand always. It boasts lots of unique earthy tones with some fruit and spice. 94/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Wild Turkey/Austin Nichols Distilling Company
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 114
– ABV: 58.4% (116.8 proof)
– Price: $44.95 USD in Idaho

Visit wildturkeybourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This has a very rustic Christmas written all over it, with the scent of fresh pine trees or branches filling a small space and lit only by the occasional candle. Nevertheless, the space is warm, familiar, and comfortable. Sit and relax with your back against a wall and Rare Breed in hand while you celebrate the holiday in your own unique bubble. It may be quiet, but it is peace, and the possibility for surprise guests is never out of the question. You wouldn’t have it any other way.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

NOSE:

I get a burst of warm caramel on the first inhale. Strangely enough, I’m immediately reminded of a Knob Creek Idaho Pick I had in the beginning of 2020, and that bourbon turned out to be one of my favorite bourbons of all time. (Slightly concerned I’m suddenly expecting too much of this bourbon, but we will see.) Dark fruits are readily apparent, and are partially dried such that they still have a juiciness to them. Prunes and raisins make up this component and are mixed with a pine tinge and allspice with heavy cinnamon. In a way, it almost smells like a mulled wine.

The barrel is present and also seems somehow fruity (cherry?) and has a bit of clove for spice. For an additional sweetness, I get something cake-like and drizzled with caramel or a really deep custard.

The alcohol is very mild and isn’t abrasive at all unless you really try to make it hurt. In this way, it definitely differs from my aforementioned Knob Creek that was at a higher proof than Rare Breed. Nevertheless, I am now walking into the tasting itself with some (perhaps unfair) expectations and with my hopes up.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Oily yet somehow also textured. It’s viscous on the palate, but it lingers and hooks onto the taste buds without letting go.
– Balance: Predominantly earthy, this still carries distinct spice and fruit elements that make for a very solid blend.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this leaves behind a single ring that creates the occasional clinging droplet with very few legs.

– Taste: A spicy mulled wine hits the taste buds with the cinnamon being heavy enough to be the slightest hint bitter. I get a bit of rye, dusty corn, and citrus zest that all contribute to this bitterness. And while not quite fruit, I am reminded of crystallized ginger, and it could be coated in enough sugar that my palate thinks it’s fruit.

I’d say it’s still piney, if not also a bit dry on its woodiness, but this works to push the other flavors to the forefront of the palate. This whole pour confuses the palate while also being refreshing and new, yet somehow still familiar. I keep trying to hunt for a more distinct fruit beyond mulled wine grapey-ness, but it refuses to appear. An argument could be made for dates or prunes. Nevertheless, while I am a fruit lover, this simply fills a niche in flavor that I know I’ve been chasing since my Knob Creek. It’s not as fruity, but the spice and earthiness resonates in a similar way with just enough fruit to satisfy my high standard.

The alcohol is very easy to contend with in this pour and seems more textural than biting. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, grapes come alive along with cinnamon and clove. It is just a sheer joy to have.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. Flavor lingers between sips and the warmth settles everywhere.
– Between Sips: A bit more fruit appears between sips, with a splash of cherry coming through along with some old (and perhaps musty) oak. Not a hint of spice.

– No More: It stays very consistent throughout the glass. While I maybe would have liked the fruit to kick it up just a little, there is very little to complain about here. A great pour.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet yet mild oak that has a hint of that ginger from the palate. Really just a solid and unique empty vessel.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $50 USD the simple answer is, yes. Yes, this is very worth it. This one surprised me, and I was not expected a dupe of one of my favorite bourbons to be found in a Wild Turkey product, but I am very happy to be proven wrong. I will be keeping it on hand.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED REVIEW RATING: 94/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 94/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Wild Turkey.

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Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Brian’s Wild Turkey Rare Breed Review:

reviewed 01-September 2021

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED BOURBON REVIEW:

Wild Turkey RB is a good bourbon but not one I need to have as a regular on my shelves. I am not quite sure about Austin Nichols products; they don’t quite tick my bourbon profile boxes. But as expected, it is better than Wild Turkey 101, but there are many bourbons I enjoy more.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Wild Turkey / Austin Nichols Distilling Co
Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 114
Age: 6-, 8-, and 12-year blend
ABV: 58.4% (116.8 Proof)
Price: $44.95 (2021 in Idaho)

To learn more click Rare Breed | Wild Turkey Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate pours to achieve review amounts were added to Glencairns from a newly opened bottle. The bourbon was then enjoyed neat with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED NOSE:

At first Wild Turkey RB offers the nose a light ethanol burn but in subsequent wafts I get herbal cigar tobacco and notes of faint sweet cherries. Then come allspice, cloves, ginger, and rye along with simple syrup and woody caramel poured over roasted nuts. But most prevalent is strong dry oak, hazy toasted barrel char and earthy old leather.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED PALATE:

Wild Turkey RB offers faint roasted corn, rich tobacco and traces of faint dark cherry. These scant flavors are almost hidden under black pepper and rye, some dark chocolate, burnt sugar, dark molasses and dark toffee over roasted bitter walnut. Like on the nose I get strong dry oak, hazy toasted barrel char, and earthy notes of cigar and leather.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Wild Turkey RB gives the tongue and mouth a rough tickle when first held. It quickly turns warm and oily the longer it is held in the mouth. In the Glencairn, long clinging legs return liquid to the tawny pool leaving behind a near dropless ring. While not unbalanced, it is unexpected and wood dominate. Frankly, I expected much more from a “premiere” Austin Nichols product.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED FINISH:

Wild Turkey RB finishes long and warm, with the lingering flavors and aromas of faint cigar tobacco, strong dry oak and hazy toasted barrel char. There are also subtle notes of pepper and rye, a little burnt sugar over roasted bitter walnut which fade into earthy old leather. All in all the finish mirrors what I tasted and sensed on the nose.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? No
While Wild Turkey RB is a good bourbon at a good price, it doesn’t quite fit my profile. I would reach around it to grab many others. So if I’m reaching for something else, I won’t need another bottle in the bunker.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Wild Turkey.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey Rare Breed

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